In the major leagues, promotions are usually pretty straight-forward. Schedule some decent giveaways, make some bobbleheads, blow up some fireworks, and it’s relatively easy to put some more fannies in the seats.
But in the minors, where the players are virtually anonymous and the rosters are interchangeable, filling the grandstands requires a lot more creativity. And minor-league marketing folks come up with some strange promotions almost daily.
That creativity is evident in these 10 promotions, the best of 2007 so far:
Salute to Indoor Plumbing
Let the jokes begin: It was a promotion by the West Virginia Power. And toilet humor seemed to work on May 21 against the Augusta Greenjackets. The team planned to close all the rest rooms and make everyone use portable toilets, but there were health code concerns. But they still made the best of it. With the team’s employees dressed in overalls, they mashed up brownes and made them look like “poo,” director of promotions Kristin Call told the Washington Post. Then they had a “Poo Toss.” The Power are developing quite a reputation for outrageous promotions. On the calendar in July is a salute to cheese, and in August, a celebration of bowling.
Billy Donovan Night
The Fort Myers Miracle deserve credit for ingeniuity, plus reaction to a current event. When Florida Gators basketball coach Billy Donovan took a job with the Orlando Magic, then reconsidered a day later and went back to Florida, the Miracle were inspired. On June 20 vs. Tampa, the Miracle gave fans a chance to “opt out” of their tickets if they weren’t entertained (they had to negotiate with a local attorney), served waffles at the concession stand and had a guy named Billy Donovan scheduled to throw out the first pitch. And, of course, the Miracle’s Donovan “reconsidered,” taking another job before the game. The team’s CEO is Mike Veeck, the son of Bill Veeck, considered the original baseball promotions expert. Dad would be proud.
"Office Space" Night
Inspired by the 1999 cult classic movie by Mike Judge, the Bowie Baysox held a tribute to the oft-quoted film on May 7. Of course, it came on a Monday – so fans could cure their “case of the Mondays” – employees wore short-sleeved shirts with ties (no word on how many “pieces of flare” the food-service staff had to wear), and fans got a chance to take a baseball bat to used office equipment such as fax machines and computers.
Mustache Growing Contest
The Florida State League’s Vero Beach Devil Rays invited its fans to show up on May 20 for a game clean-shaven, and get their photos taken. A week later, the same fans returned, and whoever grew the best mustache was declared a champion. An interesting idea, but one suggestion. Make the contest a month long instead of a week.
Hagerstown McDreamy Contest and "Grey's Anatomy" Celebration
It’s tough to draw people away from their favorite TV shows, but the Hagerstown Suns had an idea on Thursday, April 19. Every Thursday is Ladies Night at the park, and the Suns brought in five look-a-likes of Grey's Anatomy hunk Patrick Dempsey. They also had a “scrubs” fashion parade, a medical spelling bee and a “McDreamiest hair competition,” a panel of nurses determined a winner.
"Price is Right" Night featuring Bob “Parker” Bobblehead
On June 2, the Fresno Grizzlies saluted the game show. Fans in attendance wore name tags and were invited to “come on down” for pricing games between innings, and 2,500 “Bob Parker” bobbleheads were given away. Parker is the Grizzlies’ mascot, who made the look like the game show’s host, Bob Barker, who recently retired after 35 years on the show.
Petrol-Palooza
The rise in gas prices inspired the Birmingham Barons, who allowed fans on June 25 to buy general admission prices for the current price of unleaded gasoline (which is roughly $2.90 per gallon) and box seats for the price of premium unleaded (roughly $3.50). A $250 gas card was also part of a giveaway.
James Whistler Bobblehead
Anybody can make bobblehead dolls of former and current players. But the Lowell Spinners are making dolls that are absolutely unique. Last year they gave away dolls of beat poet Jack Kerouac. This year’s honoree is painter James Whistler, the artist of the famous “Whistler’s Mother” portrait. The bobblehead doll, given away June 21, was modeled after the artist’s 1896 self-portrait.
World's Largest Tighty-Whitey Race and World's Fastest Fat Man Contest
The folks from the West Virginia Power were at it again on May 21, and they held a pair of races of “mammoth proportions.” In the tighty-whitey race, groups of people were banded together in a super-sized pair of briefs and ran around the bases, and then some overweight guys entered themselves in the latter contest.
Ugly Sweater Night
Both the South Bend Silverhawks and Portland Beavers had essentially the same promotion early in the season, when temperatures were colder. Fans were encouraged to wear their most hideous sweater. And they get bonus points for benefiting charity. In South Bend on April 11, the winner received a shopping spree at Goodwill, and fans were encouraged to bring unwanted clothing to the ballpark.
Note: Special thanks to Benjamin Hill of MLB.com, who recaps minor league promotions weekly in a regular feature on minor league baseball's web site.
